Last week we mentioned the most helpful question to ask when new tasks and responsibilities come up within your team:
is this urgent or is this important?
In fact, that question was posed earlier this year in a cohort we were coaching through The Engagement Blueprint. The question reinforced how important it is to ask – it’s on everyone’s mind when given a new task, project or goal.
It’s likely that most of the work you do is very important. At the same time, it may or may not be urgent. Click here for a quick coaching video on how to discern. Considering the time of day you have your best energy may influence how urgent a certain task, project or goal is. Considering your energy will help you to prioritize so you can utilize your mindset, behaviors and strategy within your peak performance times. (Note: we all have peak performance times.)
Here are 6 steps you can choose from to clarify your priorities. Put them all together and you’ll gain confidence as you identify and manage your mindset on behalf of your time, your aligned behaviors on behalf of your priorities and utilize your strategy on behalf of your best energy.
Manage Your Mindset on Behalf of Your Time:
1 - At the end of the day, align your priorities with what is most urgent or most important for the following day.
2 - Have an on-going projects list that is not urgent, but that you are aware of and working on with the marginal gains (incremental) mindset.
Manage Your Aligned Behaviors on Behalf of Your Priorities:
3 - Consider the urgency of communication – while you may get distracted by the incoming of emails, texts or slack – they do not always need your urgent attention. If, you discern they are important, be consistent during your day of when you can be interrupted. You may need to address communication responses and expectations within your team.
4 - Put dates and time expectations to each task, as you delegate, ensure others have clarity and are in alignment with your time frame and prioritization.
Manage Your Strategy on Behalf of Your Best Energy:
5 - Schedule the 3 most urgent or important tasks where you have your best energy to ensure they are completed (you may have your best energy at the beginning of your work day, mid-morning or at the end of the day – be self-aware and discern where to best use your energy).
6 - After completing the 3 most urgent or important - move on to the rest of your list and choose what can be moved to urgent or important.
Click Here For The Full Manage Your Energy Template
Ultimately, utilizing your valuable asset of ENERGY mindfully and responsibly will support you and your organization with a mindset TIME and ENERGY are valuable assets. Your outcome in scheduling and planning your TIME & PRIORITIES – will provide an experience of greater, positive and sustainable ENERGY over time as well.